District administration bans collection of transport fee for summer vacations

Says tuition fee for holiday period to be collected in one-month installments only.

PESHAWAR: District administration of Peshawar imposed the Consumer Protection Act, 1997 and ordered all private schools to not charge transport and administration fee for summer vacations. It also stated private schools will not be allowed to take collective tuition fee of the three-month summer vacations as it places a huge economic burden on parents.

Addressing a press conference at the deputy commissioner’s office on Friday, Peshawar DC Riaz Mehsud said the district administration has banned the collection of transport and administration fee for summer vacations.

He said it was unfair for parents to pay transport fee for summer vacations when children do not even use the facility. “This is placing an extra burden on people and is illegal,” Riaz said.

He also said the three-month tuition fee from parents can also no longer be taken in one go by private educational institutes.

Riaz added schools will be allowed to collect tuition fee for the three-month vacation but only through installments. “Parents will pay summer vacation fee in one-month installments over the course of 90 days prior to the closure of schools,” he said.



He maintained a few schools have already taken summer vacation fee in advance, but the district administration will try its best to return it to parents.

Warning bells

He warned the administrations of all private schools that strict action will be taken against them by the district administration if they failed to abide by the law.

“Any school found to be collecting summer vacations fee collectively or charging students for administration and transport fee during the holidays will be penalised,” Riaz said, adding FIRs will be registered against all those who violate rules.

“Monitoring cells are working and parents can complain about any school that is not following the order through their telephone number.”

Riaz added if any private educational institute wants to increase its monthly fee, it will have to contact consumer protection council first. “The fee will only be increased once the council approves and recommends it.”

Crippling virus

The DC appreciated efforts of the district administration and polio workers in eradicating the crippling virus.

He said while Peshawar was adding to the deadly virus cases a few years ago, with persistent work and continuous efforts, not only the city but the entire country was on the verge of becoming polio-free.

He stated Shaheen Muslim Town in Peshawar was the hub of polio in the city at one time and is now an area free from the deadly virus.

“The number of parental refusals when vaccinating children has reduced from 18,000 to 300 which is a marked difference,” Riaz added.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 28^th, 2016.